Magdana's Donkey
{{Infobox film
| name = Magdana's Donkey
| image = Magdana's Donkey film poster.png
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| director = Rezo Chkheidze, Tengiz Abuladze
| producer =
| writer =
| screenplay = Carlo Gogodze
| story = Ekaterine Gabashvili
| based_on =
| starring = Dudukhana Tserodze
| narrator =
| music = Archil Kereselidze
| cinematography = Alexander Digmelov
| editing = Vasil Dolenko
| studio = Kartuli filmi
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|1955}}
| runtime = 67 minutes
| country = Soviet Union
| language = Georgian, Russian
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Magdana's Donkey ({{lang-ka|მაგდანას ლურჯა|Magdanas Lurja}}, {{langx|ru|Лурджа Магданы|Lurja magdani}}) is a 1955 Soviet-Georgian black-and-white social-themed drama film co-directed by Revaz Chkheidze and Tengiz Abuladze based on a short story of the same name by Ekaterine Gabashvili.
Plot
In a small Georgian village at the beginning of the 20th century, Magdana Sesiashvili, a widow, struggles to support her three children, Sopo, Mikho, and Kato, by selling yogurt in the city. One day, the children discover a sick, abandoned donkey on the road and, nursing it back to health, they name it Lurja (meaning "Blue-eyed"). With Lurja's help, the family's fortunes begin to improve as the donkey becomes an invaluable assistant in their small business.
However, their newfound happiness is short-lived. The donkey's former owner, a wealthy coal merchant named Mitu, recognizes it in the city and decides he wants it back. Mitu, having abandoned the donkey earlier, bribes the court, and through this underhanded tactic, he forces Magdana to surrender Lurja, taking away the family's source of hope and assistance.
Production
This film was the debut feature of Tengiz Abuladze and Revaz Chkheidze. Magdana's Donkey was acclaimed as the start of a “new wave” in Soviet cinema.{{cite web|url=http://www.moma.org/calendar/events/490 |title=Magdanas lurja Lurdzha Magdany (Magdana's Donkey). 1955. Directed by Tengiz Abuladze, Rezo Chkheidze |publisher=MoMA |date= |accessdate=2016-10-08}}
The leading role (Magdana) was played by Georgian actress Dudukhana Tserodze.{{cite web |url=http://2011.russiancinema.ru/index.php?e_dept_id=2&e_movie_id=3282 |title=Лурджа Магданы // Фильмы // Энциклопедия отечественного кино |publisher=2011.russiancinema.ru |date=1956-03-25 |accessdate=2016-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012014219/http://2011.russiancinema.ru/index.php?e_dept_id=2&e_movie_id=3282 |archive-date=2016-10-12 |url-status=dead }} The film won the Best Fiction Short award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/1956/allAward.html |title=Awards 1956 : All Awards |accessdate=4 May 2015 |work=Cannes}}
Cast
- Dudukhana Tserodze as Magdana
- L. Moistsrapishvili as Sopo (Magdana's older daughter)
- Mikho Borashvili as Mikho (Magdana's boy)
- Nani Chikvinidze as Kato (Magdana's younger daughter)
- Akaki Kvantaliani as Mitua
- Karlo Sakandelidze as Vano
- Akaki Vasadze as Village Foreman/Landlord
- Aleksandre Omiadze as Gigo (Magdana's Father)
- Aleksandre Takaishvili as Judge
Prizes and awards
- Prix du film de fiction - court métrage - 1956 Cannes Film Festival{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/1956/awardCompetition.html |title=Awards 1956 : Competition - Festival de Cannes (International Film Festival) |publisher=Festival-cannes.fr |date= |accessdate=2016-10-08}}
- Special prize in Edinburgh International Film Festival (1956)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0048324|Magdana's Donkey}}
{{Tengiz Abuladze}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magdana's Donkey}}
Category:1950s Russian-language films
Category:Georgian-language films
Category:Soviet black-and-white films
Category:Films directed by Tengiz Abuladze
Category:Films directed by Revaz Chkheidze
Category:Drama films from Georgia (country)
Category:Soviet-era films from Georgia (country)
Category:Russian-language drama films
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{{Georgia-film-stub}}
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